Silverniknats

Found a lovely blog from a lady in the UK who beads. She is having a give away based on Remembrance Day (Veterans Day in the US).  It ends November 28th. Very nice items, some one of us will be lucky.

http://silverniknats.blogspot.com/2014/11/november-giveaway.html#gpluscomments

Good luck.
~cryssT

Octoberfest 2014 - my apologies

My apologies - I had surgery on October 17th and forgot about this hop.

It's been a long year so I am glad that fall is here and I can enjoy the beautiful colors.

I'm too tired to blog - so here is the piece, which has decided to load itself at about 90 degrees offset.  Hmm.

Welcome to C4 blog hop.  I want to thank Sue Kennedy and Rita from Toltec Jewels for allowing me to participate. I know there will be lots of lovely pieces on the various blogs listed below.

I received my Chicklet and took some time to think about colors that would enhance the olive chicklet and hopefully look like candy (Willy Wonka Oompas comes to mind).  I liked the red beads because they are drilled from corner to corner.  I added a mood bead because it changes color and yellow beads for brightness.  I used the purple bead and brass beads for space and asymmetry. What I really like is that on this bracelet the chicklet stays up (on the top of my hand), so many time I will make a bracelet and the focal bead ends up on the inside of my wrist.  So here it is - I find myself wearing bracelet because it has an easy, comfortable feel. Thanks for stopping by.
   I have changed the picture at it shows the bracelet off a bit better:

Permalink for Artists: 

http://www.jewelschoolfriends.com/2014/06/Choosy-Chicks-Choose-Chicklets-participating-artists.html

ARTISTS:

Guest of Honor & Featured Artist:  Susan Kennedy

Sue Kennedy's blogs:                               SueBeads...A Beady Girl's blog

                                                               Art Jewelry Elements

Sue Kennedy's website                            SueBeads

SueBeads Art Beads                                SueBeads

Hostess:

Toltec Jewels        http://www.JewelSchoolFriends.com

Artists:

Linda Anderson                  http://fromthebeadboard.blogspot.com/

Jennifer Reno                                  http://jenrenjewelry.blogspot.com/

Shirley Moore                                  http://beadsandbread.blogspot.com/

Kristen Stevens                    http://kristen-beadjourney.blogspot.com

Marybeth Rich                                http://forestofjewels.blogspot.com

Jael Thorp                                        http://jaelsjewels.blogspot.com/

Melissa Trudinger                            http://Beadrecipes.wordpress.com

Andrea Glick                                  http://zenithjade.blogspot.com/

Nan Smith                                       http://wirednan.blogspot.com

Blanca Medina                              www.peru-medesigns.com

Shai Williams               http://shaihasramblings.blogspot.com

Carolyn Lawson          http://Carolynscreationswa.blogspot.com

Rana Wilson                                    http://Ranaleadesigns.blogspot.com

Robin Reed                                     http://willowdragon.blogspot.com

Robin Showstack     http://heartsdesiresjewelryforyou.blogspot.com/

Sheila Prosterman                           http://catswithbeads.blogspot.com

Karla Morgan                                  http://Texaspepperjams.blogspot.com

Kari Asbury                     http://hippiechickdesign.blogspot.com

Kelly Rodgers            https://www.facebook.com/BeadinBlackBlue

Jayne Capps         https://mamasgottodoodle.blogspot.com/

Mischelle Andrade Fanucchi  https://micheladasmusings.blogspot.com/

Heather Richter          http://desertjewelrydesigns.blogspot.com

Chris Eisenberg                                www.wanderware.blogspot.com

Kathleen Breeding  http://www.zibbet.com/99BottlesofBeadsontheWall

Linda Landig                                    http://lindalandig.wordpress.com

Crystal Thain  (you are here)    http://beaddragons.blogspot.com/

Cheri Reed             http://creativedesignsbycheri.blogspot.com

Heather d-Entremont      http://frugalmadougall.wordpress.com/

Dini Bruinsma          http://angazabychanges.blogspot.com/

Lori Schneider        http://www.beadaddicted.blogspot.com/

Tammy Adams         http://www.paisleylizard.com/blog.html

Melinda Orr          http://bandanagirl.indiemade.com/blog

Lennis Carrier                                    http://windbent.wordpress.com/

Cynthia Machata                            http://antiquitytravelers.blogspot.com

Elizabeth Hodges      http://thewhisperingseas.blogspot.com

Debbie Rasmussen                          http://kepirasmussen.blogspot.com/

Tanya McGuire                                http://tanyamcguire.blogspot.com/

Charlie Jacka                                  http://clay-space.com/blog/

Ev Shelby                 http://raindropcreationsbyevelyn.blogspot.com/

Sharyl McMillian-Nelson      http://sharylsjewelry.blogspot.com/

Jasvanti Patel        http://jewelrybyjasvanti.blogspot.com

Chicklets Challenge

Coming up all to soon is 

   Choosy Chicks Choose Chicklets Challenge 

so I am in the process of completing my piece. 

Sue Beads was kind enough to donate 45 chicklets 

so there will be lots of pieces to view. 

The blog hop is August 3rd.  

Here's the banner. 

   

Gemstone & Metal Blog Hop 2014 Reveal

Good Morning and sorry for the delay in posting - but it's the morning of the 19th so I'm in time.
I received a wonderful assortment of Aventurine from Lisa Lodge for this blog hop but am not sure what I did with the picture I took of the beads.  Update - I finally found it:

 

That said, I competed two pieces and would have liked to have had more done but have been dealing with health issues. 

Here are the pieces I completed and I am looking forward to seeing the many wonderful items that others have done.  The necklace is for our granddaughter who is eight and the bracelet is for a friend whose jewelry was stolen earlier this year. 

I have retaken the pictures and at the bottom of the blog you can see the original blah picture. 
The  great thing about blog hops is that I see and read others presentations and use the information to improve what I do.

And the links to the other artists:

Your hostess:  Lisa Lodge, A Grateful Artist

Kim Dworak, Cianci Blue

Marybeth Rich, A Few Words from within the Pines

Karen Grosset Grange, Ginkgo et Coquelicot

Veralynne Malone, Designed by Vera

Katrina Taylor, I Wanna Go Out

Ann Schroeder, Bead Love

Kathleen Breeding, 99 Bottles of Beads on the Wall

Terri Wlaschin, Dances in Fog

Margaret Pelech, Big Margaret

Jo-Ann Woolverton, It's a Beadiful Creation

Kathy Zeigler Lindemer, Bay Moon Design

Heather Richter, Desert Jewelry Designs

Carolyn Lawson, Carolyn's Creations

Toltec  Jewels, Jewel School Friends

Melissa Trudinger, Bead Recipes

Shaiha Williams, Shaiha's Ramblings

Chris Eisenberg, Wanderware (May be delayed a few days)

Eleanor Burian Moore, The Charmed Life

Christine Stonefield, Sweet Girl Design

Robin Reed, Artistry HCBD

Laurie Vyselaar, Lefthand Jewelry

Cassi Renee Paslick, Beads: Rolling Downhill

Crystal Thain - Here Bead Dragons (that is this blog) http://beaddragons.blogspot.com/

Alicia Marinache, All the Pretty Things (May be delayed a few days)

Becky Pancake, Becky Pancake Bead Designs

Judy Campbell, Macmillanmarie Jewellery Design

Nan Smith, Handmade Jewelry Nanmade

Marde Lowe, FanciMarDesigns

Linda Anderson, From the Bead Board

Leithleach Alainn Seodra, Alainn Jewelry

Lisa E. Prewitt Knappenberger, LiRaysa Designs
Paige Maxim, Paige Maxim Designs

 

Gemstone & Metal Blog Hop -- July 19th, 2014

Yep, that's right another blog hop courtesy of Pine Ridge Treasures.
So there will be a posting in July.

Do Over

Do Overs really don't occur in life. There's no rewind or pause.  
You might get a second opportunity if you're really lucky. 
This is one Do Over that I hope to be able to enter:

http://site.jkdjewelry.com/blog/8th-do-over-challenge/

The Color of Dreams blog hop

If I do this right, it will post automatically, Sunday April 6, 2014.
 

   I feel lucky to have been included and really love the polymer cube bead that was chosen for me. I titled my piece 'Slowly Spring'.  I live about 100 miles from the Canadian border in a small town in Idaho and winter has been drawn out with freezing temps at night this last week.  So I have been dreaming a lot about Spring actually arriving. 
   I find I sleep better if I have been beading for at least an hour before I go to sleep.  
So that's my dream - to bead, to sleep, perchance to dream (happily). 
   I worked on having some asymmetry in this piece and feel it has a nice balance.  I used 4 colors of Delica; turquoise, rainbow translucence, a mystery color (no name on the tube) & a small amount of grass green.  I chose copper as a transition color from winter before the gold of summer. 
   I have lots of blogs to visit & see the other wonders that have been created, so here they are:


Honorary Artist:          Patricia Handschuh
Patricia's blog:            The Color of Dreams        
Patricias Etsy:             The Color of Dreams
Hostess: TJ                 Jewel School Friends
Kay Thomerson          KayzKreationz
Audrey Belanger         Toki No Hourousha
Alicia Marinache         All the Pretty Things
Terry Carter                TappingFlamingo
Lori Schneider            Bead Addict
Jenny Kyrlach            Wonder and Whimsy
Asri Wahyuingsih       Asri's Beadwork
Dini Bruinsma            Angaza by Changes
Karla Morgan             Texas Pepper Jams
Debbie Rasmussen      A Little of This, A Little of That
Veralynne Malone       Designed by Vera
Kathy Stemke              Vintage Memories Jewelry Design
Mowse Doyle              Mowse Made This
Heather Richter            Desert Jewelry Designs
Lori Poppe                    Adventures in Creativity with LorilliJean
Jayne Capps                 Mama's Got To Doodle
Andrea Glick               Zenith Jade Creations
Kathleen Breeding       99 Bottles of Beads on the Wall
Becky Pancake             Becky Pancake Bead Designs
Karin Martinez             Fairies Market
Miranda Ackerley         Mirandack
Penny Houghton           Smelly Nelly
Carolyn Lawson           Carolyn's Creations
Chris Eisenberg            Wanderware
Christie Murrow           Charis Designs Jewelry
Monique Urquhart        A Half-Baked Notion
Eve Shelby                   Raindrop Creations Jewelry by Evelyn
Cryss Thain                  Here Bead Dragons
Jasvanti Patel               Jewelry By Jasvanti
Nan Smith                    NanMade Handmade Jewelry
Sue Kennedy               SueBeads
Jean Yates                    Snap Out of It, Jean! There's Beading to be Done!
Debbie Rogers             Debbies Treasures
Marybeth Rich             A Few Words From Within the Pines
Shirley Moore              Beads and Bread
Shaia Williams             Shaiha's Ramblings
Kathy Lindemer           Bay Moon Design
Linda Anderson           From the Bead Board
Judy Turner                 Silver Rains
Gloria Allen                Gloria Allen Designs
Regina Wood              Ginas-Design
Robin Reed                 Artistry HCBD
Mary Goovars             MLH Jewelry Designs
Marlene Cupo             Amazing Designs
CJ Bauschka               4 His Glory Creations
Robin Showstack        The Crazy Bead Hoarder
Cynthia O'Toole          Sparkles and Sweets
Jael Thorp                   Jael's Art Jewels
Renetha Stanziano         Lamplight Crafts

The Color of Dreams

     I will be posting my creation on 04-06 along with links.

"Clean-up, Fix-up Your Workspace" Challenge & Blog Hop Reveal!

Sharyl of http://sharylsjewelry.blogspot.com/ came up with the "Clean-up, Fix-up Your Workspace" Challenge.
Although i don't have a lot of work space I knew my work area needed organizing.
You'll have to forgive the difference in pictures, the pre clean pictures were shot with my
camera and my post cleaning pictures taken with my phone.  Pics are at the bottom

It may not look much different but I was able to empty 7 containers, complete a couple WiPs and sort out beads I can live without (horrors).
Please note - I have restored the missing pictures but pictures from previous blogs are probably gone for good as I was in Google+ and didn't realize that I was deleting from the blog .. sigh.
Please follow the blog hop to see what others have achieved.   ~cryssT


Host: Sharyl McMillian-Nelson … http://sharylsjewelry.blogspot.com
Donna Millard http://fyrebeadz.blogspot.com/
Beda Hendrix … https://www.facebook.com/SasijuhlsThings
Ann Schroeder… http://www.beadlove.wordpress.com 
Pamela Rachelle… http://crazycreativecorner.blogspot.com
Kristin L Oppold… http://www.yayjewelry.blogspot.com
Heidi Kingman … http://heidikingman.blogspot.com
Andi … http://strungoutjewelry.blogspot.com/
Patricia Buchanan Click “Blog” on the menu bar at http://www.braceletstoo.artfire.com
Helen Simon… http://helensharvest.com/
Kashmira … http://sadafulee.blogspot.com/
somethingunique … http://somethinguniquebylana.blogspot.ca/
Renetha … http://lamplightcrafts.blogspot.com
Kathy Lindemer … http://bay-moon-design.blogspot.com
Swapna Dinesh … http://www.swardaa.com
Linda Landig … http://lindalandig.wordpress.com/
Beti Horvath … http://stringingfool.blogspot.com/
Sam S … http://samsbeadshopandjewelry.blogspot.com/
Christina Miles … http://wingsnscales.blogspot.com/
Islandgirl … http://islandgirlsinsights.blogspot.ca/
macmillanmarie … http://www.macmillanmarie.blogspot.com
Emma Todd … http://www.apolymerpenchant.com
Neena Shilvock …  http://www.capriliciousjewellery.com/the-caprilicious-jewellery-blog.html
Dee Clark… http://biz-e-bead.blogspot.com/
motidana … http://kalaabhushan.blogspot.com/
Carol D. … http://dillmansdallies.blogspot.com/
Pam Sears … http://crazycreativecorner.blogspot.com/
Nan Smith … http://wirednan.blogspot.ca
AliMc … http://northwoodscreativestudio.blogspot.com
Kari Asbury … http://hippiechickdesign.blogspot.com
Shirley Moore … http://www.beadsandbread.blogspot.com
PyxeeStyx … http://travelingsideshow.blogspot.com/
Jayne Capps … https://mamasgottodoodle.blogspot.com
Louann Elwell… https://plus.google.com/117746558861718110652/posts
Rain … http://honeyandollie.com/
Lori Bergmann … http://www.LoriBergmann.blogspot.com
Helen Simon… http://helensharvest.blogspot.com/
Arlene Dean … http://aglassbash.blogspot.com
Sandra… http://city-of-brass-stories.blogspot.de/
Alicia … http://www.allprettythings.ca
Natalie Pappas …  http://blog.nkpdesigns.com/

 

Winter Sparkle Blog Hop is by Lisa Lodge from :http://gratefulartist.blogspot.com/.

I am bit late in posting this but it's still the 22nd.
My apologies for being late.  
The colors I received were blues and clear crystals.
I had the snowflakes and I used the clear crystals on the central snowflake to provide a point of focus.   I still have the earrings to finish, probably tomorrow (added under the necklace).
Lisa put together wonderful kits and I really liked the one I received.  So here it is:  

and the other folks in the blog hop are:

Your hostess: Lisa Lodge, A Grateful Artist
Melissa Trudinger, Bead Recipes
Kathy Zeigler Lindemer, Bay Moon Design
Eleanor Burian Moore, The Charmed Life
Jo-Ann Woolverton, It's a Beadiful Creation
Chris Eisenberg, Wanderware
Carolyn Lawson, Carolyn's Creations
Toltec Jewels, Jewel School Friends
Christie Searle Murrow, Charis Designs Jewelry
Heather Richter, Desert Jewelry Designs
Ev Shelby, Raindrop Creations
Dolores Raml, CraftyD's Creations
Kim Dworak, Cianci Blue
Cassi Renee Paslick, Beads: Rolling Downhill
Annette Rivers, Mama Owl's Mess
Tammie Tusher Everly, TTE Designs
Marybeth Rich, A Few Words from within the Pines
Norbel Marolla, She Flies Again Jewelry
Karen Burg, KEB Designs
Karin Grosset Grange, Ginkgo et Coquelicot
Jasvanti Patel, Jewels by Jasvanti